Chirang, 12 August (HS ): United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) president and Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro has weighed in on recent discussions about a possible alliance between the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) and UPPL ahead of the upcoming BTC elections.

The idea of uniting Bodo-based political forces was pushed by the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) along with 16 other Bodo community organisations. Their joint appeal, initiated by ABSU, urged political parties to set aside differences for the greater interest of the Bodo people, with August 12 fixed as the deadline for deliberations.

Speaking in Chirang, Boro said such appeals from community bodies have varying outcomes — sometimes they succeed, other times they do not. However, if the motive is in the interest of the nation, he said, it should be respected. “Whether political issues get resolved or not is another matter,” he remarked.

Turning his attention to former BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary, Boro said, “If Hagrama Mohilary finds satisfaction in criticising me, I have nothing to say. Even during his regime, I opposed him as a student leader. His tenure witnessed killings, violence, dictatorship, fratricidal clashes, and cold-blooded murders. We fought against him then, and over the past five years we have defeated him to bring peace to the BTR.”

According to Boro, the course of events in any region depends on its leadership. On being asked if the UPPL was feeling the heat from BJP’s aggressive politics ahead of the BTC polls, Boro declined to name any party but made his position clear: “We fear no one’s politics. Many will say many things, and some may try to threaten us, but we will not abandon our land. We must recognise what is good here and work to correct what is wrong.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash